top of page

Economics and Finance Program

Program Overview

Recently, behavioral economists have begun taking seriously the premise that people care fundamentally not just about objective outcomes but about their beliefs. People cherish their beliefs, defend themselves from perceived challenges, and are often hostile to people who have other ideas. Such ‘belief-based utility’ can lead to camaraderie or conflict, information seeking or avoidance, uncertainty tolerance or aversion, and motivated reasoning or forgetting. 


Economics majors have a diverse range of career opportunities available to them, including positions in securities firms, banks, foreign trade companies, financial editing, consulting, and more. Previous Alumni of the Economics and Finance Program have secured positions and acceptances to the following firms/programs: 

Economics and Finance Program

• LinkedIn: Software Engineer Intern 

• Goldman Sachs: Virtual Insight Series Participant 

• Credit Suisse Steps to Success: Explore Program 

• Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy - Research Assistant for Yale Initiative on Sustainable Finance (YISF) 

• University of Chicago - Pathways in Economics (Summer Program) 

• Davidson College: Research Intern for Economics Professor 

• Various Investment Banking Internships 


These examples highlight the wide range of options that Eureka students have upon completion, allowing them to explore various industries and pursue careers in fields they are passionate about. 


Eureka Alumni from this program have received admission offers to Princeton University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), University of Chicago, John Hopkins University (JHU), and other top US universities. Alumni from this program have gone off to pursue majors in Financial Economics, Computer Science, Political Science, and Applied Mathematics. 


The research experience and skills students receive at the Eureka Program have helped students get accepted to programs such as the MIT - LaunchX Entrepreneurship Summer Program, The Wharton School - Leadership in the Business World, and other top summer programs. 


Many students from this program are also very engaged in their communities, sharing in volunteering activities and starting non-profit organizations to help the community. During COVID-19, several students have started organizations to help obtain and distribute health supplies. Many alumni from this program have received top awards like Scholastic Art & Writing National Awards, U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, and many others.  


The below sections will provide more insight into the students that have attended this program and share their experiences and successes. 

Research Topic Samples

Coaches in the NBA: Playing Star or Average Players in Final Stages of a Game?

Team coaches face a tough decision during the final stages of a game: whether to play star or average players. Coaches often believe that star players should be brought in to ensure a win or turn the game around. However, this may lead to the opposing team's defense solely guarding against star players. Student L* explored this issue from a game theory perspective in Eureka's Game Theory project. Using multivariate calculus and simulations, Student L and his professor found that teams should reduce the appearance of star players during the final stage if performing well in conventional defense. Additionally, teams should only let the star player play 3 out of 10 times at most. Student L's thesis demonstrated impressive reasoning and mathematical foundation and is currently studying at Duke University, known for its strong basketball culture. 

BasketballCoach.png

College Admission Results

Attended Eureka

2020 Summer

High School Name

Blair Academy

Admission Offer Received

• (EA) University of Michigan
• Williams College (RD)
• Pomona College
• University of California - San Diego

Eureka Research Title

Is Doping Free Equilibrium Possible In The Current State Of Olympic Weightlifting?

Attended Eureka

2019

High School Name

Uwc Canada

Admission Offer Received

• Princeton University
• Duke University

Eureka Research Title

Effectiveness Of Specific Feedback In Athletic Performance

Attended Eureka

2020 Summer

High School Name

Greenhills School

Admission Offer Received

• Yale University

Eureka Research Title

What Caused The Collapse Of The Arm Market During The 2007-2009 Financial Crisis

Attended Eureka

2020

High School Name

Horace Mann School

Admission Offer Received

• Yale University

Eureka Research Title

Foreign Language On Risk Judgment And Tolerance

Attended Eureka

2021 Summer

High School Name

Deerfield Academy

Admission Offer Received

• Yale University
• Brown University
• John Hopkins University (JHU)

Eureka Research Title

The Effect Of Intentions And Exposure On The Valuation Of Art

Attended Eureka

2018 Summer

High School Name

Mercersburg Academy

Admission Offer Received

• University of Chicago

Eureka Research Title

The Effect Of Reference Price On Customer'S Decisions In Online Shopping

Attended Eureka

2018 Summer

High School Name

Indiana Springs School

Admission Offer Received

• Bowdoin College

Eureka Research Title

Research Topic - Undisclosed

Attended Eureka

2021 Summer

High School Name

High School - Undisclosed

Admission Offer Received

• (ED) University of Chicago

Eureka Research Title

How Did Singapore’S Sovereign Debt Risk Change Since 2016.

Attended Eureka

2021 Summer

High School Name

The Bishop's School

Admission Offer Received

• (ED) University of Chicago

Eureka Research Title

Women In The Service Sector & Asean

Attended Eureka

2022 Summer

High School Name

Westtown School, Pennsylvania, Usa

Admission Offer Received

• (ED2) John Hopkins University (JHU)

Eureka Research Title

The Effect Of Education On Men And Women When Responding To Low-Promotability Tasks

Student Experiences

Eureka Student Research: Ranking of data-area’s FDI prospects for China, South Korea, and Germany
2022 Behavioral Economics Belief-Based Utility - Research Presentation Video
2022 Eureka Student Research: The Effect of Familial Bonds on Risk Tolerance Among East Asians

Community Activities

MIT Launch X Entrepreneurship Program

The MIT Launch X program is an intensive entrepreneurship program for high school students. Participants learn the skills and mindset needed to start a successful startup, including market research, product development, and pitching to investors. The program culminates in a Demo Day where teams present their business ideas to a panel of judges. Student S.*, who is currently studying at John Hopkins University, had the opportunity to attend this entrepreneurship program

Wharton (UPenn) - LBW

The Leadership in the Business World (LBW) program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School is a summer program designed for high school students interested in business and leadership. The program offers students the opportunity to learn from Wharton faculty and industry leaders, participate in team-building exercises, and work on a business project with their peers. The program aims to provide students with a foundation in business principles, as well as the skills and knowledge needed to become effective leaders. Many Eureka alumni have reported they have had to opportunity to attend this selective program.

The Riverdale Press

Flume’s contribution has been a tremendous help in the fight against hunger, according to Christina Hanson, POTS’ executive director. The group organized and provided face masks and hand sanitizer to low-income families who needed protective equipment. Flume hopes to continue providing for their community in various ways in the future, including virtual concerts and interactive pieces online. Yoon says he was inspired to help others after hearing a pastor say, “It’s your job to help people,” and hopes more people will be motivated to help their communities.

Asian Business Society

Fifteen-year-old Ryan Wang founded his own non-profit organization called Mezo Inc. which aims to teach economics and finance to middle and high school students. Ryan came up with the idea for Mezo Inc. after placing fifth in the National Economics Challenge and wanted to put his newly acquired knowledge to good use. The organization's goal is to provide a better understanding of economics, finance, and business to help alleviate the decreasing rate of financial literacy in the country and allow for fiscal responsibility for future generations.

Blair Academy Volunteer

Blair Academy student who organized an art auction called "Draw for Peace" to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees. She created a collage called "Hope" with a hand-drawn version of The Knotted Gun sculpture, which sold for $1,500. In total, the auction raised over $14,000 to support the U.S. fund for UNICEF. Christina worked with Blair students, faculty, and professional artists in the United States and China to gather 34 donated pieces for the auction. The auction was a hybrid online and in-person event held in New York City and included artwork in various mediums such as oil painting, calligraphy, and pottery.

TedX

A Eureka Alumni participated as a speaker at a TEDx event focusing on invisible influences of culture, politics, body language, neuroscience, and feelings have profound effects on our interactions. A speaker event is seeking individuals pursuing innovation and seeking to make a positive impact on the world, with a focus on balancing scientific thinking with empathy and connection to the global community.

Source:

Honors and Awards

US Presidential Scholars program

The US Presidential Scholars program is one of the nation's most prestigious awards for high school seniors. It recognizes and honors graduating high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service to their community, and promise for future success. Eureka Alumni that received this award completed research on the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

Scholastics Art & Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a national program that recognizes and celebrates the creative achievements of young artists and writers in grades 7-12. It provides opportunities for exhibition, publication, and scholarship, as well as a platform for talented students to showcase their work to a wider audience. Several of Eureka Alumni from this program have received this award. These students did research projects in behavioral economics, macroeconomics, and business law.

National Merit Scholarship Program

The National Merit Scholarship is a highly competitive academic scholarship program for high school students in the United States. It is awarded based on a combination of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership potential, and performance on the PSAT/NMSQT exam. The Eureka Alumni that received this award did a research project on Brazil's Sovereign Credit Risk.

Click to Read Abstracts

Information Sessions

Disclaimers

* Some students names are hidden from this page for privacy purposes

* All college results rankings are based on the 2022-2023 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings

bottom of page